Common Name Griffith's Vanilla [English Physicisn and Orchid Collector 1800's]

Flower Size 2.4" [6 cm]

Found in Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra in tropical evergreen lowlands as an elongate, hot to warm growing terrestro-epiphytic vine with 3 to 4" [7 to 10 cm] long internodes on an elongate, climbing stem carrying elliptic, fleshy, abruptly narrow tipped, shortly petiolate base leaves that blooms in the spring and early summer on a fractiflex, 1.2 to 3.2" [3 to 8 cm] long, densely to 12 flowered inflorescence with 4 sterile, spreading bracts and ovate, acute floral bracts and carrying wide opening, fragrant flowers.

In Malaysia the fresh fruits of this species have been mentioned as being eaten by the natives. The flowers are also crushed and added with water and the liquid is applied to the body to help reduce fevers. The sweet fruits are crushed with the leaves to make a milky irritating juice that is applied to the hair to promote growth.